The U.S. Coast Guard is working to get the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse flashing again.

The Virginian-Pilot of Norfolk reports Coast Guard spokesman Petty Officer Nate Littlejohn said the rotating machinery that sends a beam of light seaward every 7.5 seconds has stopped working. Littlejohn said the Coast Guard is working on the problem and expects to have it fixed soon.

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According to a University of North Carolina website, since 1950, the light has used a device in which two bright bulbs protected by aluminum drums burn in front of parabolic reflectors. A motor and drive gears just below make the lights rotate.

Mariners depend on GPS but still look for the 210-foot tall black-and-white striped tower with the flashing light that can be seen at least 20 miles offshore.